Vehicle washer



10mm? 5F ma a BEST AVAILABLE COPY Nov. 21, 1950 w. H. HOPPER ETAL Re.23,294

VEHICLE WASHER o i ,6 '562 Original Filed Dec. 2, 1946 2 Sbee'ts-Sheet 1Q s 3 a;

1 SEARCH RGGM 1 &

' AW V VPNQMNK o /wk i f aii f l/ I 1 I I I I A/EX SEARCH ROW? Nov. 21,1950 w. H. HOPPER ETAL VEHICLE WASHER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Qriginal FiledDec. 2. 1946 Reissuecl Nov. 21, 1950 UNITED STATES SEARCH RUUM VEHICLEWASHER William Howard Hopper, Edison, and Virgil R. Drake, Los Angcles,Calif., assignors, by direct and mesne assignments, to WashmobileCorporation, a corporation of California Original No. 2,465,562, datedMarch 29, 1949, Se-

rial No. 713,416, December 2, 1946. Application for reissue March 21,1950, Serial No. 150,828

Matter enclosed in heavy brackets appears in the original patent butforms no part oi. this reissue specification; matter printed in italicsindicates the additions made by reissue 4 Claims.

[The principal object of our invention is to provide a vehicle washermovable from vehicle to vehicle along the path of the vehicles in itsmovement thereover for the purpose of directing a plurality of cleaningsprays over the exposed or outer sides and top of the vehicle] [Afurther object of the herein invention is to provide a vehicle washer bymeans of which the exterior and interior of the vehicle may bethoroughly cleaned in a minimum amount of time and at a relatively lowexpense] [A further object of the herein invention is to provide avehicle washer which will effectively remove road dirt and grime from avehicle, an automobile. for example, and leave it clean and dry insideand outside] [A further object of the herein invention is to provide avehicle washer which may readily be handled and controlled by oneperson] [And a stil further object is the provision of a vehicle washerportable in its structure, requiring but little space, and capable ofaccomplishing in a minimum of time and without physical effort on thepart of the attendant, all that the largest auto laundries, for example,are able to accomplish] The principal object of our invention is toprovide a vehicle washer which may readily be handled and controlled byone person.

A further object is the provision of a vehicle washer portable in itsstructure, requiring but little space, and capable of accomplishing in aminimum of time and without physical efiort on the part of theattendant, all that the largest auto laundries, for example, are able toaccomplish.

A further object of the herein invention is to provide a vehicle washerby means of which the exterior and interior of the vehicle may bethoroughly cleaned in a minimum amount of time and at a relatively lowexpense.

And a still further object of the herein invention is to provide avehicle washer which will efiectively remove road dirt and grime from avehicle, an automobile, for example, and leave it clean and dry bothinside and outside.

In order to attain the above objects, the invention provides a generallyrectangular archway under which the vehicle to be washed is stationed,said archway affording nozzles distributed over its height and widththrough which water and detergent solution may be emitted under pressurein appropriate sequence during the guided movement of the archway backand forth along the length of the vehicle.

We attain these objectives by the vehicle washer shown in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation of the vehicle washer with the outline of anautomobile (used by way of example only) shown positioned therein bybroken lines;

Figure 2 is a vertical section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the invention broken away to reduce the sizeof the figure;

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 1, and

Figure 6 is a section on line 5-6 of Fig. 3.

Similar numerals of reference throughout the several views indicate likeparts.

The invention is in general arch-like in shape so that it may be movedback and forth over a vehicle.

The arch structure includes a frame and in the form shown is largelyformed of piping and fittings joined together to form a pair of parallellines In and II held in spaced relationship by being welded to crossbars l2, I2.

Embodied in the pipe lines In and H are a pair of horizontal pipes I3and I4 positioned across the top of the structure, the ends whereof areturned downwardly and joined as by means of unions l5, l5, and l6, It,to vertical pipes I1, l1, and I8, I8, respectively at opposite sides ofthe structure.

The pipe lines or conduits 10 and 11 are each of inverted U-shape andthe vertical or upright conduits 17, 17, and ,18, 18, are somewhattaller than a vehicle to be washed and the horizontal or connectingcross lengths 13 and 14 are somewhat longer than the width of thevehicle to be washed so that the arch structure formed by the pipe linesor conduits 10 and 11 is adapted to encompass the vehicle to be washedwith the U-shaped pipe lines or conduits extending in substantiallyparallel relation and being spaced from each other by a distance but asmall fraction of the length of the vehicle to be washed.

The pipes 18, I8 are secured in vertical relation to the pipes l3 and IIby means of flanges I9, I! fixed as by welding to a truck frame Illhaving a pair of wheels 2 I, 2 I, aligned to ride in a channel track 22,or otherwise within or without similar guide means as may be expedientand advantageous. The truck frame 20, wheels 21 and track 22 extend atright angles to the general plane of the U-shaped frame formed by thepipe lines or conduits 10 and 11 and serve to limit the movement of theframe crosswise of the vehicle to be washed and thereby guard againstimpact of the frame against such vehicle.

The pipes l1, 11 are somewhat shorter in length than the pipes l8, it.They extend downwardly into a pair of T's 23, 23, which also receive theupper ends of a pair of pipes 24, 24, the latter extending downwardlyinto a pair of unions 25, 25. They are so Joined by means of a pair ofnipples 26, 26 to a pair of T's 21, 21 which in turn are joineddownwardly by a pair of nipples 28, 28, to a pair of flanges 29, 29.

The flanges 29, '29, are fixed in the identical manner as the flanges19, I9 to another frame or truck bed 30 having a pair of wheels orrollers 3|, 3| disposed in the channel track 32 which lies parallel tothe track 22.

A tank 33 is suspended as shown upon the pipes 24, 24 by means of a pairof pipe hangers 34. Said tank, however, may be positioned elsewhere thanshown, and unconnected to the washer proper as may be more convenient ordesired. It is provided with a pressure gauge 35, a filler cap 35, aninlet valve 31 and an outlet valve 33.

The inlet valve 31 is disposed between the tank 33 and a T 39 coupled toa hose connection 40. Said T 39 is also coupled to a valve 4| which ismutually joined to the T's 21, 21 by a T 42, a pair of nipples 43, 43and a pair of street elbows 42, 42.

The outlet valve 38 is mutually joined to the T's 23, 23, by a T 44, apair of nipples 45, 45, and a pair of street elbows 46, 46.

An air hose connection 41 is provided at the inlet end of an air pipeline 48 which is held parallel to the line H by pipe hangers 49, 49flxed to the tank 33 and the bars l2, I2. Said line 48 is closed at itsother end by a cap 50.

A pair of hose connecting fittings 51 are provided in the line 48 ateither side of the arched structure for purposes hereinafter explained.

A valve 52 is coupled into the line 43 by a T 53 and a nipple 54. a

The valve 52 is also coupled into another air line 55 disposed parallelto the line 48 by a nipple 52' and a T 55', and which line is held byhangers 59, 56. The line 55 is closed at its lower end also by a cap 59.

A plurality of air blast nozzles 51, 51 are provided in the line 55.

Braces 53, 59 and 53, 59 may be welded to the lines In and II tostabilize the structure.

A plurality of water spray jets 60, 50 are provided in thelines Ill andII.

In operation, the filler cap 39 is removed and the tank 33 is filledwith a saponaceous agent to the desired quantity, the vehicle to becleaned having been driven or otherwise moved into a position betweenthe tracks 22 and 32 as seen in Fig. 1.

Water fed by means of a hose from the source of supply (not shown) andconnected to the hose connection 40, valves 31 and 33 being closed, andvalve 4! open will thus be sprayed upon the vehicle from the jets 60, 50as the washer is moved along thetracks 22 and 32. Following this wettingof the vehicle, the valve 4| is closed and the valves 31 and 38 areopened, whereby the water will enter the tank 33 through the valve 31and flow therefrom through the valve 39 into the lines l0 and II. andtherefrom through the jets 59, 50 to the vehicle.

As the water flows from the valve 31 into the tank 33, it contacts thesaponaceous agent therein and is therewith thoroughly commingled. Thuswhen it flows out of the tank 33 through the .valve 38, it is no longerclear water but a mixture comprising the cleansing agent. As it flowsfrom the jets 50, 60, the washer is again moved along the tracks 22 and32 in order to bring the jets 60, 60 in position with the vehicle forcleansing the same. Thereafter, the valves 31 and 33 are again closedand the valve 4| is again opened to permit the election of clear waterto rinse off any saponaceous mixture adhering to the vehicle on furtherframe movement.

When the vehicle is thus cleaned and rinsed, the valve 41 is againclosed so that no water (either clear or saponlfied) is sprayed upon thevehicle, and the valve 52 is opened to permit air from the line 48 topass into the line 55 and exit through the nozzles 51, 51 to dry thevehlcle.

An air hose connected to the source of supply (not shown) may beattached to the fittings 5|, 5| to air clean the interior of thevehicle.

It will thus be seen that we have provided a unitary apparatus formechanically washing an automotive vehicle by different controlledsequential washing operations during successive rolling movement of theapparatus along, over and within the length of the vehicle. Thesesequential operations are first rinsing with a clear water spray uponthe first movement along and over the length of the vehicle, then byoperation of the control valve cleansing by spraying water and asaponaceous mixture upon the next successive movement of the frame backaiong and over the length of the vehicle, then by further manipulationof the control valve a rinse of clear water spray during the nextsuccessive movement again along and over the vehicle, and then ifdesired by further manipulation of the air control, air drying of thevehicle upon further successive movement along and over the same. Thisresults in a conservation of space and by the sequential differentoperations each of which is separately controlled upon successivemovement of the frame back and forth along and over the vehiclecompletely rinses, cleans, rinses and dries the vehicle within its ownlength. As this entire unitary apparatus is adapted to be operated by asingle operator the arrangement of the valved fluid control means in azone of the frame accessible to the operator facilitates this operation.

We are aware that modifications may from time to time suggest themselvesin the details of structure illustrated without departing, however, fromthe scope of our present invention, and as defined in the claimsappended hereto. Hence, we do not limit our present invention to theexact description herein set forth, but what we do claim is:

1. A unitary apparatus for mechanically washing a stationary automotivevehicle by different controlled sequential washing operations duringsuccessive rolling movement along and within the length of the vehicleincluding a substantially U-shaped inverted light frame adapted toencompass a small area across the top and sides of the vehicle, rollersat the ends of the frame, floor tracks for the rollers to permit guidedmovement of the frame longitudinally of the vehicle in either direction.said frame including parallel spaced U- shaped pipe lines, spaced spraynozzles on said pipe lines directed toward the vehicle, a cleans ingmixture containing tank on one leg of the frame, means to supply fluidunder pressure to the movable frame, a valved fluid control meansinterposed between the supply and the pipe lines SEARCH ROOM adjacentthe tank adapted to be selectively operable at the termination of arolling movement of the frame along the vehicle to direct fluid throughthe cleansing mixture tank or bypass the same, and said valved controlmeans being located and arranged in a zone of the frame accessible to anoperator whereby upon successive back and forth movements of the framealong the vehicle and sequential selective fluid control the vehicle maybe successively rinsed, cleansed and rinsed within its own length.

2. A unitary apparatus for mechanically washing a stationary automotivevehicle by different controlled sequential washing operations duringsuccessive rolling movement along and within the length of the vehicleincluding a substantially U-shaped inverted light frame adapted toencompass a small area across the top and sides of the vehicle, rollersat the ends of the frame, floor tracks for the rollers to permit guidedmovement of the frame longitudinally of the vehicle in either direction,said frame including parallel spaced U- shaped pipe lines, spaced spraynozzles on said pipe lines directed toward the vehicle, a cleansingmixture containing tank on one leg of the frame, means to supply waterunder pressure to said frame, a valved water control means interposedbetween the supply and pipe lines adjacent the tank adapted to beselectively operable at the termination of a rolling movement of theframe along the vehicle to direct water through the cleansing mixturetank or by-pass the same, means for supplying air under pressure to saidframe, nozzle means for directing, air against the vehicle, a valved aircontrol means interposed between the air supply and nozzle, and all ofsaid valved controls being located and arranged in a zone of the frameaccessible to an operator whereby upon successive back and forthmovements of the frame along the vehicle and sequential selective fluidcontrol the vehicle may be rinsed, cleansed, rinsed and dried within itsown length.

3. A unitary apparatus for mechanically washing a stationary automotivevehicle by difierent controlled sequential operations, said apparatuscomprising a pair of substantially identical pipe conduits each ofinverted U-shape, each conduit including a pairof uprights somewhattaller than the vehicle to be washed and a connecting crosslengthbetween the upper ends thereof somewhat longer than the width of thevehicle to be washed so that each of said conduits is adapted toencompass the vehicle to be washed, each of said conduits being closedat the lower ends of the uprights thereof, said U-shaped conduitsextending in substantially parallel relation and being spaced from eachother by a distance but a small fraction of the length of the vehicle tobe washed, means aflired to said two inverted U-shaped conduitsintervening between and connecting the same to form a unitary invertedU-frame, horizontal carrier means directly and rigidly afllaed to saidinverted U-shaped conduits and bridging the corresponding extremities ofthe two inverted U-shaped conduits and constituting the sole supportthereof, separate guide means for said U-frame extending at right anglesto the general plane thereof and serving to confine said supported framefor movement lengthwise of the vehicle to be washed and thereby guardingagainst impact of the frame against such vehicle, each of said invertedU-shaped pipe conduits having nozzle openings distributed along thelength thereof and directed inward to cause any emitted liquid toimpinge upon the vehicle being washed in a narrow zone adjacent a planetransverse to the path of movement of the conduit, an inlet connected toat least one of said pipe conduits for supply of water therethrough, asecond inlet connected to at least, one of said pipe conduits for supplyof detergent solution therethrough, and a valve control means forselectively feeding water or detergent solution.

4. The combination recited in claim 3 in which the support for theinverted U -shaped frame comprises a truck frame to which the lower endsof the U-shaped frame are rigidly fixed, said truck frame having wheelsand said guide means comprises a pair of tracks for the wheels.

WILLIAM HOWARD HOPPER. VIRGIL R. DRAKE.

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